December 5, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2093 housed the Fitzsimons Army Hospital has Mr. Higgins has lived in Lincoln Park since Humvee’s turret when the bomb went off. been redeveloped into a $4.3 billion ‘‘square the age of 5, and throughout his life he has Shrapnel peppered his body and two large mile of life science projects’’ and is the focus been committed to making it a better place to pieces struck him—one in the right wrist and for the biotechnology industry in the Rocky live. Charles was first elected to the Board of another in the upper left thigh. Mountain Region. The Colorado Bioscience Education in 1967 and he made it his goal to Following the attack, Brandon was airlifted Park located in Aurora, Colorado is the first improve subjects that, from his time in high to a military trauma center in Kuwait to under- university-affiliated ‘‘biopark’’ to be developed school in Lincoln Park, he felt were lacking. go extensive emergency surgery to remove west of the Mississippi. It is adjacent to the Such areas included vocational education and the shrapnel and stabilize his injuries. Colonel University of Colorado Health Sciences Center the math curriculum. Mr. Higgins’ dedication to Paul Curlett, commander of the 386th Air Ex- and Hospital Complex, the Children’s Hospital, parent-teacher associations while on the peditionary Wing, presented Brandon with a and the Fitzsimons Commons town center, all Board granted him the Distinguished Service Purple Heart medal before his return to the of which make up the new development at the Award for his efforts with the students. His U.S. to receive additional treatment at Wilford former Fitzsimons Army Hospital time on the Board earned him the recognition Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force 5. Lowry Redevelopment—the former 1866 of the longest-serving board member in the Base in San Antonio. acre Lowry Air Force Base has been con- district of Lincoln Park and in the state of In addition to his Purple Heart, Brandon has verted to 4500 residential properties, 4 college Michigan, and the honorable position of Board received a number of other awards and deco- campuses, a town center with shopping and President. rations, which include the National Defense commercial space, and 800 acres of open/rec- Mr. Higgins served as a liaison to the Michi- Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary reational space. Lowry has been so successful gan Association of School Boards, the City Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service that it received the Governor’s Award for Council of Lincoln Park, to the City Recreation Medal, and the Air Force Small Arms Expert Smart Growth and is a model community for Commission. He has been deservingly hon- Ribbon with cluster award. urban-infill projects across the country. ored with tributes such as the Book of Golden After his wounds heal and his rehabilitation Throughout his career, Max has been the Deeds Award from the Lincoln Park Exchange complete, Brandon will have to go before a recipient of many honors and awards, includ- Club and Award Merit and Award of Distinc- medical review board to determine his eligi- ing two bronze medals, a U.S. Forest Service tion from the Michigan Association of School bility to return to duty. Otherwise, he plans to award, the prestigious 4Cs award from the Bu- Boards. He also served with dedication as one return to his previous post as an Installation reau of Land Management, a Department of of 28 board members from the state as a Patrolman and Security Response Team Defense Award for work on Rocky Mountain Michigan Ambassador for Public Education. Leader for the 99th Security Force Squadron. Arsenal, and. several special SES service Before his time on the Board, Mr. Higgins Brandon feels as if he has let down his ‘‘broth- awards. In 2004 Max received the coveted worked for General Motors and was a deacon ers and sisters down range’’ because he can- Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Exec- at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church. He is not be with them, fighting in the fields. utive. The Presidential Rank Award recog- deeply involved in his community, and some Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rec- nized, among several other things, his leader- of his current commitments include the Lincoln ognize Airman First Class Brandon Byers for ship in setting up the first ‘‘one stop’’ funding Park Athletic Club, Little League Baseball, Girl his undaunted demeanor and courageous con- process for Clean Water Act programs which Scouts, and the Lincoln Park Democratic Club. duct in defense of . He is a true pa- was subsequently adopted by the Agency; re- He is also active with the senior community, triot who serves the with valor invigorating and streamlining the Regional Na- delivering baked goods to the Lincoln Park and courage; I commend him for his service tional Priorities Listing efforts which resulted in Senior Center Towers. and I wish him luck with all his future endeav- the addition of 12 new sites located in Region I wish Mr. Higgins, his wife Marilyn, and ors. 8 to the National Priorities List; and evaluating their three children many good years filled with the impacts of wastewater point and non-point family, friends, and good health. The South- f sources of contamination on a watershed east Michigan Community deeply appreciates basis instead of the traditional discharge by his fantastic devotion and loyal service. I ask IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEMO- discharge basis. Through Max’s leadership, that all of my colleagues join me in wishing CRATIC PACIFIC UNION’S INTER- the EPA changed several of its approaches for Charles Higgins a happy and relaxing retire- NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DE- addressing environmental problems and man- ment. MOCRACY AND CONGRESS aging different aspects of the Clean Water and f Superfund programs. HON. DONALD M. PAYNE Max has contributed 40 years of service to PAYING TRIBUTE TO BRANDON OF NEW JERSEY the people of this nation and especially the BYERS communities encompassed within EPA’s Re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES gion 8 area. His ‘‘can do’’ approach and per- HON. JON C. PORTER Tuesday, December 5, 2006 sonal style of working with people make him OF NEVADA Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a role model for public servants in all aspects IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Democratic Pacific Union’s (DPU) upcom- of government. I want to personally thank him Tuesday, December 5, 2006 ing international symposium on democracy for his work on the clean up of Rocky Flats and congress this December 8 through 10 in and mine waste issues—especially ‘‘Good Sa- Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to , . DPU, a non-governmental or- maritan’’ concepts—two issues that are espe- honor Airman First Class Brandon Byers for ganization was founded in 2005 in Taipei to cially important to my Congressional District. his courage and dedication to his comrades enhance dialogue and exchanges among He has laid the foundation for all of us to con- and his country by serving in Iraq. members of parliaments from countries around tinue his great work for the benefit of the envi- On November 6th, 2006, Brandon returned the Pacific Rim. ronment, our quality of life and effective public home from serving at Camp Bucca, Iraq, as a This year’s symposium will feature a num- service. I ask my colleagues to join me in Combat Convoy .50 Cal Gunner for ASO Mis- ber of panels on democracy, parliamentary thanking Max for his contributions and wishing sions and Commonly Remote Operated procedures, presidential and congressional him the very best in his future endeavors. Weapons System (CROWS). He was greeted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada by his unit, elections with participants from , Can- f the 99th Security Forces Squadron with his ada, the United States, , , TRIBUTE TO CHARLES HIGGINS wife and 5-year-old daughter by his side and , and the Republic of China. I en- his wounds healing. courage my colleagues to attend this impor- HON. JOHN D. DINGELL On October 16th, 2006 Brandon experi- tant symposium. OF MICHIGAN enced a terrifying ordeal that nearly cost him Taiwan has a special relationship with us. Our commitment to Taiwan’s security, as stat- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his life. While on active duty, Brandon’s Humvee was hit with a bomb detonated by ed in the Taiwan Relations Act, has enabled Tuesday, December 5, 2006 Iraqi insurgents. The improvised explosive de- Taiwan to serve as a beacon of democracy in Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to vice wounded him and two of his comrades the Pacific region and beyond. pay tribute to Mr. Charles Higgins, in honor of while they were returning to camp in Southern I also offer my congratulations to Taiwan his work and accomplishments for the Lincoln Iraq from a mounted patrol mission. Brandon Vice President Annette Lu for putting this sym- Park Board of Education. was manning a .50-caliber machine gun in the posium together.

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